Here is what I would like for you to know: In America, it is traditional to destroy the black body—it is heritage.

My recent disillusioning trip notwithstanding, I am still very much in love with the US, but Ta-Nehisi Coates puts things into perspective. Much like sexism is often difficult to notice for males until a woman points it out, white people tend not to realize just how huge a problem racism in America still is.

Coates’ book is bitter and sometimes hard to read (especially that it’s in a form of a letter to his son), but you should read it nonetheless. It’s one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

(I wrote this post a couple of weeks ago, so please don’t take it as a comment on recent presidential election)